Plaster machine



Nov 17, A. M. BATES Filed llay 26, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 No'. 17, l925- 'A. M. BATES PLASTER MACHINE.

Filed lay 26. 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 17, 1925.

. A. M. BATES PLASTER MACHINE Filed lay 26. 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 17,1925.

i UNITED STATES PATENT' oEFi-CE.

ADEIJMER IVI. BATES, 0F C I-IICAGO. ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BATES VALVE BAG COM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

PLASTER MACHINE.

Application led May 26, 1920. Serial No. 384,380.

To ZZ wfzom it 'may concern:

Bc it known that I, ADEUMEH M. BATES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Plaster Machines, of which they following is a specification.'

My invention relates to improvements in bag-filling machines and has for an object to provide 4anew and improved efficient, accurate weight and high speed bag-filling apparatus.- Another object is to provide a bag-filling machine which will be simple, durable and easily operated. Another object is to provide a bag-filling machine which will be particularly useful in connection with filling bags with such material as plaster and the like, which are notoriously hard to handle. Other objects will appear from time to time in the specification.

My invention lis illustrated more or less diagrammatieally in the accompanying rdrawings, wherein Figure l is a front elevation with parts removed and parts broken away;

' Fig. J2 is a side view of Figure 1 with parts in section and parts in elevation.-

Fig. 3 is a detail section similar to Fig. 2, with the filling tube in the lower shut-off Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4--4 of Fig. l

' Fig., 5 is a rear elevation ofthe .parts shown in Fig. 4;

. Fig. 6 is a section along the line 6--6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a section along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6, the scale beam omitted.

Like part-s are indicated by like characters in all the drawings.

A is a supporting end frame for my bagfilling machine. It is to be understood that there is a similar frame at the end of the machine which is broken away in Fig. 1.

' The end frames rest upon foundation pillars A and support at their .upper ends the transverse combined girder vand hopper member A2. These A frames are tied together toward the bottom by the lateral channel members A3, A4. The member A2 has integral therewith the series of separate hoppers A5, A5, adapted to be kept at all times filled'with material from any suitable reservoir, which would normally be bolted to the upper flanges of the member A2, as at A", and form in effect a large general supply hopper with a series' of small separate hopper bottoms, one for each filling station.

' B, B are a series oftapered propeller pockets open at the top and bolted to the member A2 so as yeach to be in register with one of the hoppers A5. Each one of these propeller chambers carries a bladed propeller B', there being a continuous propeller shaft B2 passing through all these propeller chambers carrying a propeller in each chamber and supported in the bearings'B3 on themain frames A. Bt is a belt pulley whereby the propeller shaft is rotated. Each propeller pocket or chamber is provided with a removable front portion B5, which contains a horizontal, tangential discharge throat B6.

C is a filling tube adapted sometimes to be in register with the-filling throat B6 and at other times to be in line with a tubecleaning plunger C. This plunger, is slidable in the guide C2, supported at its rearmost end by a rock arm C3 and adapted to be held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by the spring'C4. C5 is a rock arm on the same shaft with the arm C3, and a handle C6 projects forward where it may be grasped by the operator. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, the operator can pull forward the handle C6 and thereby drive plunger C through tube C and clean out any material that may have stuck therein. This cleaning operation preferably takes lace while the bag is suspended from the tu e and is held in place thereonby the weight of the material in the bag. C7 is a shut-offl plate .so associated with the tube C that when the tube C is in its lower position out of register with the throat, the shutscrew and nut arrangement D3, as shown.l

This link is relatively long, so that there is but a slight lateral displacement of the upper end of the A-.frame age between the abutting surfaces surroundleft, on Fig.

ing the feed throat andfeed tube is reduced to a minimum. The tube and shutofplate are connected to the A-frame-by means of the bracket members D, D, so thatt-hese parts are rigidly mounted on the. frame. D is a link pivoted at one end on one pf these connecting members and thus connected with the A-frame and pivoted at the other end on a toggle lever D7. This lever is pivoted on the member A2, as indicated, and 'is adapted tobe `limitedin its upward movement by means of'a stop-arm D8, so that when in the position shown in Fig. 2 the frame will be raised to bring the filling tube and filling throat into register, the stop-arm being provided only to prevent the possibility of the operator carrying the parts up too far so as to bring the filling tube out of register with the throat above instead of below. The arrangement of these parts is such that when the A- frame is moved downwardly it brings the lever` with it into the position shown iu Fig. 3, at which position the pivoted point of lever and link is moved slightly to the 3, of a line joining the separate pivots of lever and link so as to provide a locking means to lock the A-frame in the downward position.

It will be noted that this A-frame extends downwardly toward the bottom of the machine. E is a cradle pivoted on the lower portion of the A-frame. The bag E is adapted to rest and its upper valve end is adapted to be strung onto the filling tube. E2, E2 are members extending upwardly from the cradle E, terminating in a bag-stripping yoke E?, to which it attached the dumping handle E4; The pivot of the cradle is toward the front, so that the weight of the bag tends to hold it seated on cthe A-frame, and it requires the force of the operator applied to the handle E4 to tilt the bag out of the A-frame and off lthe cradle; but this movement is resisted by a pivoted locking member E having a serrated bag-engaging foot adapted to pinch the bag against the tube and so arranged that any tendency toward moving the bag outwardly along the tube will only clamp it tighter. This member has a tripping or bag-releasing tail EC extending up and adapted to be engaged by the lever D7, and when the lever D7 assume:F` the position shown in Fig. 3 it will press down on the tail and release the bag from and the possibility of leak-l at itsbottom on. that cradle the tube, so that the operator may easilw str1p the bag and discharge it from the. machine; and the lock arrangement is providedvso that when this is done the scale weight, which was overcome by the bag Whenlt was lled, will not be able to throw the A-frame up and permit the further feed of materlal until the operator has threaded another bag into position and positively1 ot' his own accord raises the bag and associated. parts back into t-he filling position. F is a scale-beam fulcrumed on thek'nife edge F on the cross-beam A3. This'scalebeam 1s provided on either side with knife edges F2, F2, engagin bearing grooves F, F3 on -the A-frames he rear end of thc scale-beam is provided with a tail F4 where- .by the movement of the scale-beam is limited, v there being an adjusting screw F5 to set the i device and adjust the limits between which -the scale-beam can'rotate. F6 is the ordinary adjustin bar along which a weight F7 may be move for fine adjustment of the weights. G is a weight basket. It is suspended i from the knife edges G, G on the scalebeam. It has a removable bottom G2 held in place by means of the bolts G3. G4 is a weight recessed at its bottom to engage theboss on the bottom' G2. It contains a central interior aperture, as at G5, to contain a series of small, easily lostweights G7. Gs is a larger weight contained within the recess G5 and resting 'on the ledge G part way down therein. G10 is a weight recessed at its bottom to interlock with the inJ terlocking flange G11 on the weight G4 and to inclose the weight GS- so that all the. weights in the basket are interlocked and so that particularly the small, easily lost vweights are contained within the large ones, so that they are protectedagainst displacement. y

H is a shaft mounted for rotation on the bracket H at the rear of the machine. It is rotated by means of a belt pulley H2 and belt H3 driven from the propeller shaft B2. H4 is an eccentric on the shaft, H5 an eccentric strap on the eccentric, and H6 an eccentric rod. H7 is a link pivoted on the cross-member A3 and pivotally supporting a goose-neck tamping arm HS terminating in a curved tamping head H2 adapted to operate'against the side of the bag. This tamping head is adjustably connected by means of a screw and bolt arrangement H10' toa yoke H11, which itself is adjustable on the eccentric rod, so that reciprocating movement of the eccentric rod will move the tamping head back and forth against the bag, the working end being supported by the pivotal link H7.

It will bc evident that while I have shown in my drawings an operative dcvice, still many changes might be made. both in size, shape and arrangement of parts, without departing materially from the spirit of my invention. I wish. therefore, that my drawings be regarded as in a sense diagrammatic.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

Each bag-filling machine has a number of filling tubes and since the operation of the machinery is in a sense automatic one workman is expected to operate more than one filling tube and associated parts. The large hopper is always kept filled with the mate.- rial which is to be bagged. All of the A- frames are normally in the down position when not working, so that the shut-off plates associated with'them will close the filling` throats. The propellers will continue their rotation, but since theA material cannot be discharged they will merely agitate that ma- Vai terial located within the propeller chambers. The workman will first put on the proper number of weights, depending upon the kind of material and size of bag, and will get his fine adjustment by means of the movable Weight. He will then take a bag, run the fabric valve tube onto the rigid feeding tube with the body or the bag hanging down between the arms of the A-frame and closed 'or puckered end of the bag resting on the cradle. He will then lift up on the toggle lever, breaking the toggle and moving the lever from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the osition shown in Fig. 2, thus bringing the Elling throat and filling tube into register. Immediately the material will be discharged through the throat and tube into the bag by the propeller. The operator can then go to another station andrepeat the process. The material will be fed in until the bag is full by weight, when the weight of the filled bag will over-balance the scale, and the A-frame, bag and associated parts will drop back into the position shown in Fig. 3, thus closing off the feed of material. As soon as the operator comes back to this station he will pull on the handle to drive the cleaning plunger forwardly through the filling tube. Certain materials, especially plaster with hair embedded therein, is liable to clog in the tube C, and any material in the tube is weighed as a part of the charge, and so should be discharged into the lilledbag. The dropping of the weighted toggle 'lei er will have resulted in a release of the baglocking mechanism, as shown in Fig. 3, and the operator can then pull on the bag-tilting handle, strip the bag oil' the tube, and dump it from the cradle. He is then ready to repeat the process.

In bag-filling machinery, where the feeding tube and feeding throat move with'respect to one another, as inthis device, there is always a certain amount of discharge from between them, especially where movement takes place, and the dust tray or guard catches the discharge and deflects it away` from the operators face, so that he is not slowed up in his wor t by this annoying' blast of material.

The toggle arrangement, with its stop, is provided so that the operator may be able to positively return the A frame and associated parts into such a positionthat the filling throat and tube Will be in proper register when the filling is taking place, as, of course, if they were even slightly7 out of register the" capacity of the machine would begreatly reduced. The arrangement also limits downwardv movement of the apparatus so that there is no possibility of the cutoii' plate going too far down and permitting a discharge over its top, and at the same time the weight of the toggle lever provides the automatic release to trip. the bag lock and make it possible for the operator to easily strip the bag from the tube.

The propeller pocket is wide at the top and is really nothing more'nor less than the bottom of the hopper, the idea being that by this arrangement, the plaster will always be able to settle down into the propeller pocket without delay even though it does not iow as readily as many materials.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be noted that the fulcrum member F is mounted in a socket L,` which socket has a broad base resting upon a clamp member L". rlhis clamp member rides upon the upper fiange surrounding and mounted for movement with the tube. v

2. In a bag filling machine, a propeller pocket having a discharge throat, a filling tube mounted for movement into and out of register with the throat and a dust guard surrounding and mounted for movement with the tube comprising a fiat plate through which the tube passes, the plate being rearwardly fianged about its periphery.

3. In a bag filling machine, a propeller pocket having a discharge throat, a filling tube mounted for movement into and out of register with the throat and a dust guard surrounding and mounted for movement with the tube, said guide comprising a flat plate through which the tube passes, the plate being rearwardly flanged about its periphery, the flange extending far enough ioo ' back so as to catch and deflect any material which may be discharged from between the surfaces surrounding the throat and tube where they engage.

4. In a bag filling machine, a propeller pocket having a discharge throat, a filling tube mounted for movement into and out of register with the throat and a dust guard surrounding and mounted for movement with the tube, said guide comprising a flat plate through which the tube passes, the plate being rearwardly flanged about its periphery, the flange on the lower side of the plate extending far to the l'rear beyond the cleavage line between the throat and tube.

5.A In a bag filling machine, a propeller pocket having a discharge throat, a filling tube mounted for lateral movement into and out of register with the throat, and means slidably mounted adjacent said throat for positively cleaning the tube when it is out of register with the throat.

G. In a bag filling machine, a propeller pocket having a discharge throat, a filling tube mounted for lateral movement into and out of register with the throat, and means associated with the tube for positively cleaning it whenl it is out of register with the throat, said cleaning means comprising a lunger mounted for movement longitudinally into the'throat.

7. In a bag filling machine, a propeller pocket having `a discharge throat, a filling tube mounted for lateral movement into and out of register with the throat, and means associated with the tube for positively cleaning it when it is out of register with the throat, said cleaning means comprising a plunger mounted for movement longitudinally into the throat and positive means controlled by the operator for forcing the plunger into the tube to clean it.

8. In a bag filling machine, a propeller pocket having a discharge throat, a filling tube mounted for lateral movement into and out of register with the throat, and means associated with the tube for positively cleaning it when it is out of register with the throat, said cleaning means comprising a plunger mounted for movement longitudinally into the throat, positive means controlled by the operator for forcing the plunger into the tube to clean it, the plunger being adapted to move into the tube in the same direction as the material which is fed thereto, and yielding means for retracting the plunger.

9. In a bag filling machine, a propeller pocket .having a disch'arge throat, a filling tube mounted for lateral movement into and out of register with the throat, and means associated with the tube for positively cleaning it when it is out of' register with the throat, said cleaning means comprising a plunger mounted in a guide adjacent the throat for movement longitudinally intovthe throat, and a pivoted member supporting ,tube mounted for lateral movement into and out 'of register with the throat, and means associated with the tube for positively cleaning it when it is out of register with the throat, said cleaning means comprising a plunger mounted ina guide adjacent the throat for movement longitudinally into the throat, a pivoted member supporting the rear end of' the plunger, and a spring surrounding the plunger and adapted to be compressed between the guide and the rear end of' the plunger.

1l. In a bag filling machine, a propeller pocket having a discharge throat, a filling tube mounted for lateral movement into and out of register with the throat, and means associated with the tube for positively cleaning it when it is out of register with the throat, said cleaning means comprising a plunger mounted in a guide adjacent theI throat for movement longitudinally into the throat, a pivoted member supporting the rear end of the plunger, an operating lever associated with said member and a handle projecting forwardly from the filling ma-v chine whereby the operator may pull the operating lever to compress the spring and force the plunger into the tube.

12. In a bag filling machine, a propeller pocket having a discharge throat, a filling tube mounted for lateral movement into and out of register with the throat, and means associated with the tube for positively cleaning it when it is out of register with the throat, said cleaning means comprising a plunger mounted in a guide adjacent the throat for movement longitudinally into the throat, a pivoted member supporting the rear end of the plunger, a spring surrounding the plunger and adapted to be compressed between the guide and the rear end of the plunger, an operating lever associated with said member and a handle projecting forwardly from the lfilling' machine whereby the operator may pull the operating lever to compress the spring and force the plunger into the tube. j

13. In a bag filling machine, a propeller pocket having a discharge throat, a filling tube mounted for lateral movement into and out of register with the throat, means associated with the tube for positively cleaning it when it is out of register with the throat,

.Said cleaning means comprising a plunger mounted for movement longitudinally into the throat, and means comprising the weight of the material in the bag for holding the bag in position on the tube while the tube is being cleaned'.

15. In a bag filling machine, a bag holding frame, members associated therewith adapted to engage and support the bag at top and bottom, a scale beam supportinoi the frame, and adjustable means `for holding the bag frame in a substantially vertical position during operation.

16. In a bag filling machine, a bag holding frame, members associated therewith adapted to engage and support the bag at top and bottom, a scale beam supporting the frame,

and adjustable means for holding the bag frame in a substantially vertical position during operation, comprising apivoted link engaging the upiper end of the frame.

17. In a bag filling machine, a bag-holding fra-me, a scale beam supporting it, a l-.

justable means for holding the bag rame in a substantially vertical position during operation, comprising a pivoted link engaging the upper end of the frame and means for adjustably moving the fixed pivot point of the link along a horizontal line.

. 18. In a bag filling machine, a bag holding frame, a scale beam supporting it, adjustable means for holding the bag frame in a substantially vertical position during operation, and means for horizontally adjusting the fulcrum of the scale beam.

19. In a bag filling machine, a bag holdinframe, a scale beam supporting it, adjustable means for holdinfr the bag frame in a substantially vertical positionduring operation,

.comprising a pivoted link engaging the upper end of the frame, and means for horizontally adjusting the fulcrum of' the scale beam.

20. In a bag filling machine, a bag holding frame, a scale beam supporting it, adjustable means for holding the bag frame in a substantially vertical position during operation, comprising a pivoted link engaging the upper end of the frame and means for adjustably moving the fixed pivot point of the link along a horizontal line, and means for horizontally adjusting the fulc'rum of the scale beam.

21. In a bag filling machine, a feeding throat, a filling tube mounted for registry therewith, a bag frame supporting the tube, a scale beam supporting the frame, means for horizontally adjusting the fulcrum of the scale beam, a parallel motion mechanism adapted to hold theibag frame in a substantially vertical position and means for horizontally adjusting such mechanism,

.22. In a bag filling machine. a feeding throat, a filling tube mounted for registry therewith, 'a bag frame supporting the tube7 a scale bea-m supporting the frame, means for horizontally adjusting the fulerum of the scale beam, a link pivoted at oneend on l 'holding means being both .ofthem adjust- ,able in a direction parallel to the axis of the tube.

24. In a scale mechanism` a main supporting frame, a scale beam pivotally mounted on the frame, a material support pivotally ymounted on the beam, and a link substantall)vv parallel with the beam and pivoted to the frame and the support, the pivot mountings of the beaml and link on the frame being adjustable along parallel lines.

25. In a scale mechanism, a main frame, a scale beam pivotally supported on the frame, a material support pivotally supported on the beam, a link parallel with the beam and pivotally connected 'to the frame and material support and a material feeder, the pivotal connections of the link and beam to the frame being adjustable to adjust the material support with respect to the feeder. l

into register with .the throat, a bag lock associated with the tube and releasing means adapted to release the lock when theftube is in its lower position.

27. In a bag filling machine, a feeding throat, a bag filling tube mounted for vcrtical movement into and out of register therewith, and a locking device' adapted to automatically lock the tube in place when it completes its downward excursion.

28. In a bag filling machine, a feeding throat, a bag filling tube mounted for vertical movement into and out of register therewith, a locking device adapted to automatilcally lock the tube in place when it completes its downward excursion, and a bag lock associated with the tube and adapted tobe releasedby the means which locks the tube in its downward position when the tube is so locked.

29. In a bag filling machine, a feeding throat, a bag filling tube mounted for vertical movement into and out of register therewith, a hand lever adapted to raise the tube iio tion, and a stop associated with the handlever adapted to stop the upward movement of the tube when it is in register with the throat.

31. In a' bag filling machine, a -feeding throat, a bag filling tube mounted for vertical movement into and out of register therewith, a` hand lever adapted to raise the tube into register with the throat, a bagl lock associated with the tube'and adapted-to be released when the tube is in its lower position, a bag frame associated with the tubel and a weighing member supporting the bag frame, the parts being so arranged that, when a bag carried by the tube is completely filled, the weighing member which normally holds the tube in the upward position will be overbalanced to permit the tube to drop to the lower position.

32. In a bag filling machine, a feeding throat, a bag filling tube mounted for vertical movement into and out of register therewith, a locking device adapted to automatically lock the tube in place when it completes its downward excursion, a bagv frame l associated with the tube and a weighing position.

member supporting 'the bag frame,the parts being so arranged that, when a bag carried by the tube is completely filled, the weighing member which normally holds the tube in the upward position will be over-balanced to permit the tube to drop to the lower 33. In a bag filling machine, a feeding thro-at, a bag filling tube mounted for vertical movement into and out of register therewith, a locking device adapted to automatically lock the tube in place when it completes its downward excursion, a bag lock associated with the tube and adapted to be released by the locking action of the tube lock, a bag frame associated with the tube and a weighing member supporting the bag frame, the parts being so arranged that, when a bag carried by the tube is completely filled, the weighing member which normally holds the tube in the upward position will be over-balanced to permit the tube to drop to the lower position.

34. In la bag filling machine, a feeding throat, al bag filling tube mounted for vertical movement into and out of register therewith, a hand lever adapted to raise the tube into register with the throat, and a locking link. said link and lever adapted to lock-the tube automatically inl its lowermost position, f abag frame associated with the tube and a weighing member supporting the bag frame,

the parts being so arranged that, when a bag carried by the tube is completely filled, the weighing member which normally holds the tube in the upward position will be overbalanced to permit the tube to drop tothe lower position.

35. In a bag filling machine, a feeding throat, a bag filling tube mounted for verposition, a stop associated with the hand lever adapted to stop the upward movement of the tube when it is in register with the throat, a bag frame associated with the tube and a weighing member supporting the bag frame, the parts being so arranged that, when a bag carried by the tube is completely filled, the weighing member which normally holds the tube in the upward posito drop to the-lower position.

SGIn a bag filling machine, a movable frame, a filling tube carried thereby, a filling throat, andpmeans for moving the tube into and out of register therewith, said means comprising a weighing. mechanism, a hand lever fulcrumed at one end upon a fixed part of the machine, and a link connecting the movable frame to a point on the lever intermediate its ends and movable to a point between the fulcrum and the point of attachment of the link to the frame.

37. In a bag filling machine, a movable frame, a filling tube carried thereby, a fillingthroat and means for moving the tube tion will be over-balanced to permit the tube into and out of register therewith, said l means comprising a weighing mechanism, a pivoted hand lever and a stop whereby the movement of the lia-nd lever is limited to register the throat and tube.

p 38. In a- -bag filling machine, a movable frame, a filliiigtube carried thereby, a filling throat and means for moving the tube into and out of register therewith, said means comprising a weighing mechanism, a pivoted hand levei' and a toggle link interposed bctween the frame and the lever in such a way that when the lever is in the downward position, the link automatically locks the frame so that it can not be moved upward without manipulation of the lever.

39. In a bag filling machine, a movable frame, a filling tube carried thereby, a filling throat and means for moving the tube into and out of register therewith, said means comprising a weighing mechanism, a pivoted hand lever, a stop whereby the movement of the hand lever is limited to register the throat and tube, and a toggle link interllO parting materially from the spirit of my invention. I wish. therefore, that my drawings be regarded as in a sense diagrammatic.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

Each bag-filling machine has a number of filling tubes and since the operation of the machinery is in a sense automatic one workman is expected to operate more than one filling tube and associated parts. The large hopper is always kept filled with the mate.- rial which is to be bagged. All of the A- frames are normally in the down position when not working, so that the shut-off plates associated with'them will close the filling` throats. The propellers will continue their rotation, but since theA material cannot be discharged they will merely agitate that ma- Vai terial located within the propeller chambers. The workman will first put on the proper number of weights, depending upon the kind of material and size of bag, and will get his fine adjustment by means of the movable Weight. He will then take a bag, run the fabric valve tube onto the rigid feeding tube with the body or the bag hanging down between the arms of the A-frame and closed 'or puckered end of the bag resting on the cradle. He will then lift up on the toggle lever, breaking the toggle and moving the lever from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the osition shown in Fig. 2, thus bringing the Elling throat and filling tube into register. Immediately the material will be discharged through the throat and tube into the bag by the propeller. The operator can then go to another station andrepeat the process. The material will be fed in until the bag is full by weight, when the weight of the filled bag will over-balance the scale, and the A-frame, bag and associated parts will drop back into the position shown in Fig. 3, thus closing off the feed of material. As soon as the operator comes back to this station he will pull on the handle to drive the cleaning plunger forwardly through the filling tube. Certain materials, especially plaster with hair embedded therein, is liable to clog in the tube C, and any material in the tube is weighed as a part of the charge, and so should be discharged into the lilledbag. The dropping of the weighted toggle 'lei er will have resulted in a release of the baglocking mechanism, as shown in Fig. 3, and the operator can then pull on the bag-tilting handle, strip the bag oil' the tube, and dump it from the cradle. He is then ready to repeat the process.

In bag-filling machinery, where the feeding tube and feeding throat move with'respect to one another, as inthis device, there is always a certain amount of discharge from between them, especially where movement takes place, and the dust tray or guard catches the discharge and deflects it away` from the operators face, so that he is not slowed up in his wor t by this annoying' blast of material.

The toggle arrangement, with its stop, is provided so that the operator may be able to positively return the A frame and associated parts into such a positionthat the filling throat and tube Will be in proper register when the filling is taking place, as, of course, if they were even slightly7 out of register the" capacity of the machine would begreatly reduced. The arrangement also limits downwardv movement of the apparatus so that there is no possibility of the cutoii' plate going too far down and permitting a discharge over its top, and at the same time the weight of the toggle lever provides the automatic release to trip. the bag lock and make it possible for the operator to easily strip the bag from the tube.

The propeller pocket is wide at the top and is really nothing more'nor less than the bottom of the hopper, the idea being that by this arrangement, the plaster will always be able to settle down into the propeller pocket without delay even though it does not iow as readily as many materials.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be noted that the fulcrum member F is mounted in a socket L,` which socket has a broad base resting upon a clamp member L". rlhis clamp member rides upon the upper fiange surrounding and mounted for movement with the tube. v

2. In a bag filling machine, a propeller pocket having a discharge throat, a filling tube mounted for movement into and out of register with the throat and a dust guard surrounding and mounted for movement with the tube comprising a fiat plate through which the tube passes, the plate being rearwardly fianged about its periphery.

3. In a bag filling machine, a propeller pocket having a discharge throat, a filling tube mounted for movement into and out of register with the throat and a dust guard surrounding and mounted for movement with the tube, said guide comprising a flat plate through which the tube passes, the plate being rearwardly flanged about its periphery, the flange extending far enough ioo 

